Profiteering continues as authorities’ best efforts fail
Data highlights that they raided over on 13,275 shops and businesses to check prices in 2,019 markets
Ramazan Bazaar. PHOTO:EXPRESS
LAHORE:
Authorities may claim to have tightened price control by registering cases against 177 profiteers and arresting 189 traders, but locals still claim they are being fleeced right left and centre.
Official data released by the Punjab Industries, Prices, Weight and Measures Department (IPWM) shows 1,766 price control magistrates are checking rates and weights.
Data highlights that they raided over on 13,275 shops and businesses to check prices in 2,019 markets across Punjab.
During checking, the IPWM data shows price control magistrates imposed Rs2.28 million in fines on 1,919 profiteers, three hoarders and several other violators. Data shows price control magistrates raided 1,972 shops in Toba Tek Singh, while they imposed fines as high as Rs439,000 on Faisalabad traders and shopkeepers for violating rules.
Statistics released by the Punjab Agriculture Department show the department had sold over 10.25 million tonnes of fresh fruits, vegetables and pulses across the province. It states the authorities had supplied 8.61 million kilogrammes of sugar at subsidised price of Rs50 a kilogramme over the past 23 days.
Vendors continue to fleece citizens with exorbitant prices
The government, on Thursday, supplied 174,000 10-kilogramme wheat flour sacks in Ramazan Bazaars at discounted prices of Rs250 a sack, while 91,702 flour sacks of 20 kilogrammes were supplied to the open market.
Soaring prices continue
Despite repeated instructions to check profiteering, price control magistrates have failed to rein in overcharging during the month of Ramazan.
Regardless of whether it is a posh locality or a low-income neighbourhood, profiteers are fleecing citizens in broad daylight, but nobody is available to stop them. Locals from all parts of the provincial metropolis are complaining that prices of seasonal fruits have surged to a level at which they are not affordable for many.
Allah Nawaz, a resident of Gulshan Ravi area, pointed out that not a single street vendor was displaying the price list.
“These vendors, selling fruits on the main road, are asking for prices of their choice. Most of them are charging almost double for seasonal fruits and still not willing to allow customers to select and weigh the pieces of their choice. Most are selling unsorted peach varieties for Rs130-150 a kilogramme, which is a really high price for this small variety.
Naseem Bibi, a shopper in Islampura Ramazan Bazaar, said there was hardly any benefit of these makeshift markets as most vendors were selling average quality or substandard products. Mostly, vendors offered mixed varieties at premium prices.
“If you are lucky enough to find some good items, you know the bazaar administration has rationed it,” she maintained.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2017.
Authorities may claim to have tightened price control by registering cases against 177 profiteers and arresting 189 traders, but locals still claim they are being fleeced right left and centre.
Official data released by the Punjab Industries, Prices, Weight and Measures Department (IPWM) shows 1,766 price control magistrates are checking rates and weights.
Data highlights that they raided over on 13,275 shops and businesses to check prices in 2,019 markets across Punjab.
During checking, the IPWM data shows price control magistrates imposed Rs2.28 million in fines on 1,919 profiteers, three hoarders and several other violators. Data shows price control magistrates raided 1,972 shops in Toba Tek Singh, while they imposed fines as high as Rs439,000 on Faisalabad traders and shopkeepers for violating rules.
Statistics released by the Punjab Agriculture Department show the department had sold over 10.25 million tonnes of fresh fruits, vegetables and pulses across the province. It states the authorities had supplied 8.61 million kilogrammes of sugar at subsidised price of Rs50 a kilogramme over the past 23 days.
Vendors continue to fleece citizens with exorbitant prices
The government, on Thursday, supplied 174,000 10-kilogramme wheat flour sacks in Ramazan Bazaars at discounted prices of Rs250 a sack, while 91,702 flour sacks of 20 kilogrammes were supplied to the open market.
Soaring prices continue
Despite repeated instructions to check profiteering, price control magistrates have failed to rein in overcharging during the month of Ramazan.
Regardless of whether it is a posh locality or a low-income neighbourhood, profiteers are fleecing citizens in broad daylight, but nobody is available to stop them. Locals from all parts of the provincial metropolis are complaining that prices of seasonal fruits have surged to a level at which they are not affordable for many.
Allah Nawaz, a resident of Gulshan Ravi area, pointed out that not a single street vendor was displaying the price list.
“These vendors, selling fruits on the main road, are asking for prices of their choice. Most of them are charging almost double for seasonal fruits and still not willing to allow customers to select and weigh the pieces of their choice. Most are selling unsorted peach varieties for Rs130-150 a kilogramme, which is a really high price for this small variety.
Naseem Bibi, a shopper in Islampura Ramazan Bazaar, said there was hardly any benefit of these makeshift markets as most vendors were selling average quality or substandard products. Mostly, vendors offered mixed varieties at premium prices.
“If you are lucky enough to find some good items, you know the bazaar administration has rationed it,” she maintained.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2017.